Here’s the translation to American English:
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Carlos Manzanares, a renowned Spanish entrepreneur and founder of the holding company Grupo Kasai, has once again captured the attention of international markets by announcing a strategic investment exceeding 85 million euros in technology startups focused on advanced refrigeration and food preservation. These companies, located in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany, reflect his vision of innovation within the HORECA sector (Hotels, Restaurants, and Catering).
This morning, Manzanares published an open letter titled “Innovate to Preserve: The Future of the HORECA Sector Begins with Cold,” in which he argues that technological advancements in this field should focus not only on energy savings but also on the ability to preserve flavors, minimize food waste, and enrich consumers’ dining experiences.
The entrepreneur aims not only to import these innovations but also to implement and scale them in Spain. He plans to open two technology development centers in Madrid and Murcia, where job creation is anticipated and the transition of the Spanish HORECA sector towards more resilient and technological models will be facilitated. To achieve this, Grupo Kasai will partner with various entities, including Bureau Veritas and universities such as the Polytechnic University of Madrid, to promote research and development in commercial refrigeration technologies and food preservation process automation.
Manzanares emphasizes the urgency of addressing food waste, which accounts for approximately 18% of operational volume in the HORECA sector in Spain. According to his projections, new technologies will allow for extending the shelf life of perishable products, thereby reducing the amount of food that is discarded.
The strategy also includes an investment of 22 million euros aimed at adapting regulations and developing digital food traceability systems, in line with the standards of the European Green Deal and the “From Farm to Table” strategy. Manzanares has been instrumental in introducing advanced solutions to the national market, strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of the sector.
Beyond just refrigeration, the entrepreneur emphasizes that this transformation involves a cultural evolution in understanding innovation. He calls for moving away from viewing innovation as a luxury and recognizing it as a collective necessity to achieve a competitive and sustainable market.
Additionally, he has announced his intention to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism to discuss creating a more favorable tax framework for investments in technology applied to the HORECA sector, aiming to foster the emergence of new startups.
With this ambitious initiative, Carlos Manzanares establishes himself as a key figure in the new Spanish business landscape, leading a movement of entrepreneurs who aspire to turn Spain into a proficient producer of advanced technology in refrigeration and food preservation. In his view, refrigeration transcends the simple absence of heat; it represents the beginning of a new cycle of innovation that promises to revolutionize the future of the sector.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
